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Job outlook for sheriffs in the United States
Sheriff job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected sheriff job growth rate is 3% from 2018-2028.
About 20,600 new jobs for sheriffs are projected over the next decade.
Sheriff salaries have increased 10% for sheriffs in the last 5 years.
There are over 6,524 sheriffs currently employed in the United States.
There are 347 active sheriff job openings in the US.
The average sheriff salary is $46,053.
Are sheriff jobs in demand?
Sheriff job and salary trends over time
Sheriff jobs over time
Sheriff job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 6,524 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 6,421 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 6,523 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 6,484 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 6,495 | 0.00% |
Average sheriff salary over time
Sheriff salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $46,053 | $22.14 | +3.8% |
| 2025 | $44,373 | $21.33 | +2.9% |
| 2024 | $43,130 | $20.74 | +0.5% |
| 2023 | $42,898 | $20.62 | +2.3% |
| 2022 | $41,935 | $20.16 | +2.3% |
Sheriff jobs by state
Most common states for sheriffs
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 7 | 1% |
| 2 | California | 39,536,653 | 80 | 0% |
| 3 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 12 | 0% |
| 4 | Wisconsin | 5,795,483 | 11 | 0% |
| 5 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 10 | 0% |
| 6 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 9 | 0% |
| 7 | Illinois | 12,802,023 | 6 | 0% |
| 8 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 5 | 0% |
| 9 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 5 | 0% |
| 10 | New York | 19,849,399 | 4 | 0% |
| 11 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 4 | 0% |
| 12 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 0 | 0% |
| 13 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 0 | 0% |
| 14 | West Virginia | 1,815,857 | 0 | 0% |
| 15 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 0 | 0% |
| 16 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 0 | 0% |
| 17 | Kansas | 2,913,123 | 0 | 0% |
| 18 | Delaware | 961,939 | 0 | 0% |
| 19 | Nevada | 2,998,039 | 0 | 0% |
| 20 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 0 | 0% |
Most common cities for sheriffs
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Santa Clarita | 2 | 1% | $56,596 |
| 2 | Los Angeles | 2 | 0% | $56,137 |
| 3 | Oxnard | 1 | 0% | $56,799 |
Sheriff job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of sheriff experts
Jill Myers
Director of the School of Law Enforcement and Justice AdministrationWhat Sheriff skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Jill Myers: Law Enforcement is a much needed and distinguished profession. Going into the field you need a thorough background in the criminal justice system, state and federal, a working knowledge of the laws and Constitutional dictates, and the ability to communicate well both verbally and in writing. The job requires the ability to not just talk the part, but to critically think and apply the skills learned in the classrooms with real people in real situations. You will need to start the job with the ability to be a hero, to respond to real events on perhaps the worst days of someone's life. The job requires knowledge, ethical conduct, and compassion for everyone, even those who have committed unlawful actions.